The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model provides the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. However, they come with some cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize the environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. It is also necessary to put in a new filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same basic method to make your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to operate, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your coffee maker. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, including those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making - you just add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then however not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer competitors on the scene which are worth looking into. One of them is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used by its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks to a button so that you can make them by pressing a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the ideal temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that coffee pods coffee machine is synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those who want an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Certain models are larger and can make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are looking for.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine that is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level can't be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.